Chapter 543: The Fully Repaired Unit-03
Under Ryo's supervision and drive, the repair work on EVA Unit-03 was nearing its final stages.
The damaged structural framework of the machine had been restored piece by piece, and the activity of its biological tissues had been stabilized and recovered through NERV's cutting-edge technology paired with certain verfication therapies cautiously introduced by Ryo.
As the repair engineering advanced, Ryo did not stop at simply returning Unit-03 to its original state. He seized this opportunity to systematically propose and practice a dedicated EVA weapon system based on the "Cherubim" technological concepts.
The core of this system aimed to expand the tactical options of the EVAs, significantly elevating their long-range strike and sustained combat capabilities, thereby shifting away from the previous operational mode that overly relied on close-combat armaments like the Progressive Knife.
First was the "Cherubim-Type I" grenade, which had already been verified in actual combat. This close-range throwing weapon had proven its high efficiency and specificity during the confrontation against the Eighth Angel and the operation to strip away the Ninth Angel's parasitic form, becoming an essential option for dealing with high-risk, close-quarters targets or scenarios requiring precise purification.
Second was the "Cherubim-Type II" special warhead currently under steady development. This project aimed to encapsulate catalytic particles into artillery shells that could be fired via the Positron Cannon platform, realizing ultra-long-range precision sniping. Although this project was not yet fully mature, its theoretical foundation and preliminary test data had already sketched out a clear blueprint for the EVA's long-range strike capabilities.
Third, and also a recent breakthrough, was the miniaturization and energy-independence modification of the Positron Cannon. Leading a technical team and drawing from some of the structural optimization experience obtained during the repair of Unit-03—while fusing his own energy core design concepts—Ryo successfully developed a prototype Positron Cannon that could be carried and operated by a single EVA unit, no longer needing to rely on the centralized power supply of the entire Japanese electrical grid. Although its temporary output power and continuous firing capability were lower compared to the original version, it was sufficient to provide formidable long-range fire support in conventional combat, bestowing the EVA with unprecedented tactical mobility.
Finally, Ryo also designed a multi-purpose grenade launcher module installed at the shoulder armor positions. This launcher was compatible with various warheads, including conventional high-explosive shells, armor-piercing shells, signal-jamming shells, and small-yield "Cherubim" catalytic warheads, used to adapt to different combat situations by providing mid-to-close-range suppression, obstacle-breaking, or regional purification capabilities.
These four components together formed the new EVA weapon system envisioned by Ryo: utilizing the miniaturized Positron Cannon and the "Cherubim-Type II" as the core for long-range sniping and fire suppression; using the shoulder grenade launcher for mid-to-close-range tactical support; and keeping the "Cherubim-Type I" grenade as a means for close-quarters emergencies and specific target processing.
In a joint report submitted to the Tactical Operations Department and the Technology Development Department, Ryo explicitly pointed out that if this system could be fully deployed, it would effectively change the EVA's combat style, shifting it from an extreme bias toward close-quarters melee fighting to a mode that combined mid-to-long-range firepower strikes with mobile defense.
This would not only reduce the risk of pilots engaging in close-quarters combat with high-danger Angels but would also shorten combat duration and minimize collateral damage to the city through more efficient means of lethality.
Misato Katsuragi expressed immense interest in this system, believing it could vastly enrich tactical choices, particularly when dealing with Angels that possessed exceptional close-combat abilities. Ritsuko Akagi, meanwhile, focused more on the stability of its technical integration and the feasibility of long-term maintenance.
Following an evaluation, NERV's higher-ups approved in principle for this weapon system to undergo preliminary adaptation and testing on the newly repaired Unit-03.
With the conclusion of Unit-03's repairs, the white giant was about to manifest in a brand-new posture. Not only had its physical structure been integrated with certain technical imprints from Ryo, but its armament configuration was also about to welcome a profound transformation spearheaded by him.
This was both Ryo's overt contribution to elevating NERV's overall combat power and his hidden layout to verify his own technological concepts, preparing a mature weapon platform ahead of time for potential future needs. An EVA more inclined toward long-range combat might play an unexpectedly critical role in certain specific situations.
As the repair work on EVA Unit-03 neared completion and the "Cherubim" series weapon system designed to enhance the EVA's long-range and comprehensive strike capabilities approached final form, the ultimate配屬 issue regarding this new weapon system was formally placed on the agenda of NERV's Tactical Equipment Committee.
In the preliminary discussions, the mainstream opinion within the committee leaned toward equipping this system onto the nearly repaired Unit-03. Their reasons seemed logical enough: as a newly repaired machine, Unit-03 itself required comprehensive testing and adaptive training, so mounting the new weapon system would allow both to be completed together. Furthermore, considering that the current temporary pilot, Mari, had demonstrated excellent adaptability to any EVA, there would be no operational obstacles to her piloting Unit-03 equipped with the new system. Additionally, this would maintain the existing arrangement where Unit-02 was piloted by Asuka once she recovered and rejoined the squad, avoiding unnecessary changes.
However, just as this plan was about to form a preliminary resolution, Ryo voiced a clear objection at the meeting.
He first analyzed from a technical perspective: "Although Unit-03 has completed repairs, the long-term stability of its biological tissues, and the compatibility between its transmission systems and an entirely new weapon platform, all require a longer period of observation and data accumulation. Rashly assigning a complex weapon system that has not been fully verified in extreme environments to it carries unpredictable technical risks."
Next, he turned his focus toward the compatibility between the pilot and the machine: "Compared to Unit-03, which has just undergone a major trauma and whose performance is pending full evaluation, Unit-02's physical state is at its peak. We are intimately familiar with all its parameters and performance boundaries. Combining the new system with the most stable platform is the only way to forge effective combat power the fastest and acquire the most reliable, representative test data."
Finally, he brought up the human element: "More importantly, pilot Asuka has already established a profound connection and an exceptionally high synchronization rate with Unit-02. This tacit understanding, nurtured by fighting side-by-side over a long period, is a precious asset that cannot be replaced in a short time. Forcibly separating her from a familiar machine and making her adapt to a newly repaired Unit-03 that is mounted with an entirely new combat system might not only impact her combat efficacy but could also cause unnecessary negative psychological effects during her recovery phase. I believe that returning Unit-02 completely back to her, and equipping it with this new system designed to enhance survival capability and combat efficiency, is the superior choice from both a tactical and pilot-management perspective."
Ryo's argument was logically coherent and well-founded, taking into account technical risks, combat efficacy, and personnel status. He explicitly proposed that the "Cherubim" combat system should be assigned to Unit-02—which possessed a more stable state and more complete data—and that the piloting clearance for Unit-02 should be formally handed back to a recovered Asuka.
This statement, wherein he fought strongly on Asuka's behalf, quickly reached her ears via unofficial channels while she was still undergoing rehabilitative training.
Learning that Dr. Ryo not only cared about her return technically but had also argued tenaciously for her at the high-level meeting, attempting to reclaim her familiar machine and powerful new equipment, deeply moved her inner heart. A mixture of gratitude, validation, and a sense of belonging sprouted within her, causing her trust and reliance on Ryo to deepen even further.
Meanwhile, within NERV's higher-ups, Ryo's opposing view did indeed trigger new considerations. The faction supporting the original plan believed that Mari had performed outstandingly as a temporary pilot and was worthy of trust; whereas the faction that found Ryo's words reasonable began re-evaluating the importance of the tacit understanding between a pilot and their machine, as well as the value of combining a new weapon system with a mature platform.
Gendo Ikari maintained his customary silence, offering no stance. Ritsuko Akagi leaned toward some of Ryo's viewpoints from a technical standpoint but also needed to consider Mari's placement. Misato Katsuragi, on the other hand, focused more on how to elevate the overall combat power most rapidly and effectively.
Ultimately, a decision regarding the final assignment of the "Cherubim" weapon system could not be reached on the spot. The committee announced that further study and evaluation were required, and the meeting temporarily shelved the topic.
For a time, the ultimate fates of Unit-02 and Unit-03, Asuka and Mari, as well as this highly anticipated new weapon system, all hung in the balance. This assignment dispute proactively triggered by Ryo added a complex variable to NERV's internal decision-making process, while also bringing a new ray of dawn and uncertainty to Asuka's path back to the squad.